Wheel.



5. E. BERRY. WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30, 1914.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

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E. 5.5mm. WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30. l9l4.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Application filed July 30, 1914. Serial No. 854,192.

To all "whom it may concern Be it known that I, EPHRAIM E. BERRY, a.citizen of the United States, residing at Seymour, in. the county ofBaylor-and State of Texas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Wheels, of, which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved wheel construction and theprincipal ob-' ject of the invention is to provide a wheel which will bepuncture-proof and which will ride very easily.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for causingthe tire protector casing to rotate with the inner wheel.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the protecting casingand inner wheel that the inner wheel may have a slight independentmovement with respect to the casing when first starting, bearing ballsbeing provided to permit the inner wheel to move easily when shiftingits position with respect to the casing.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein-Figure 1 is a view showing the wheel in side elevation, one portion ofthe wheel being broken away; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View throughthe improved wheel; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing theupper portion of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showingthe central portion of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of thecentral portion of the wheel, the view being shown principally inelevation and partially in section; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of oneof the star-shaped plates which form part of this wheel.

The disk 10 which forms the body portion of this wheel carries a rim 11which is secured to the disk by means of bolts 12 and carries theinflatable tire .13. The starshaped plates 14 are placed upon the axle15 upon opposite sides of the disk 10 and are secured to the disk bymeans of bolts 16 which also serve to hold the cover or bearing plates17 and the star-shaped plates.

The protecting casing includes side plates or disks 18 which fit betweenthe disks 10 and bearing plates 17 and have their outer edge portionsconnected with the cupshaped rim 19 by means of bolts 20. Thiscup-shaped rim 19 carries a tire 21 of the solid type so that themachine will ride easily along the ground and not create a Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

great deal ofnoise as would be the case if a metal tire were provided.The central portions of the side plates 18 of the protecting casing are.provided with star-shaped cut outs 22, thus forming seats in which thestar-shaped clutch plates 14 are positioned as shown in Fig. 5. From aninspection of this figure it will be readily seen that when the disk 10turns with the axle 15, the arms of the clutch plates 14 will engage theplates 18 and thus cause the casing to rotate with the disk 10. In orderto permit of free movement between the plates 18 and disk 10 and bearingplate 17 there have been provided annular grooves 23 in the disk andplates, thus pr viding bearing races in'which the bearing balls. 24: and25 are placed.

When this wheel is in use, it is assembled asshown and described and thedisk 10 can then rotate either forwardly or. backwardly and carry theprotecting casing with it. There will therefore be rlo. independentmovement between the tire'13 and rim 19 while the machine is movingexcepting when first starting and thereforefriction will be preventedand the tire 13 preventedfrom being worn through. If it is desired tomake any necessary repairs, the protecting casing can be easilyremoved,'the necessary repairs made and the wheel then reassembled.

What is claimed is 1. A wheel comprising a body portion, irregularplates secured to saidbody portion, bearing plates secured to saidirregular plates, a tire, "a casing inclosing said tire and includingside plates extending between said body portion and bearing plates andprovided with central openingsconforming to the contour of saidirregulafiplates, antifriction members positioned between said sideplates and said bearing plates and body portion, and a ground engagingtire carried by said casing.

2. A wheel comprising a body portion, clutch plates carried by said bodyportion, bearing I plates fitting against said clutch plates, aninflatable tire for said body portion, a casing inclosing said tire andincluding side plates extending between said body portion and bearingplates, said clutch plates being adapted to engage the side plates ofsaid casing to cause said casing to rotate with said body portion, andanti-frietion means positioned between the side plates of said casingand said body portion I and bearing plates.

3. A wheel comprising a body portion, clutch means carried by said bodyportion, a casing inclosing said body portion, said clutch meansengaging said casing to cause the casing to rotate with said bodyportion, bearing plates fitting against said clutch means and extendingalong the outer faces of the side plates of said casing, andantifriction means positioned between the side plates of said casing andsaid body portion and bearing lates.

4. A whee comprising a body portion, a clutch plate secured to each sideof said body portion, the clutch plates being sub stantially star-shapedand provided with a relatively small number of engaging arms, the sidefaces of said body portion being provided with bearing races arranged ina circular; course between the arms of said clutch plate, an, inflatabletire carried by said body portion, a casing inclosing said .tire andincluding a rim and side plates extending along the sides of saidbodyportion and provided with openings conforming to the contour of saidclutch plates, the side platesbeing provided with healing races in theirinner faces registering with races registering with the bearing races inthe outer faces of the side plates of said casing, bearing ballspositioned in said races, and a ground engaging tire carried by the rimof said casing.

5. A wheel comprising a body portion, clutches carried by said bodyportion and provided with arms, a casing inclosing said body portion andincluding side plates having their central portions cut to conform tothe contour of said clutches, and plates fitting against said clutchesand extending along the outer faces of the side plates of said casing.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EPHRAIM E. BERRY.

Witnesses \V. H. FRANCIS, E. T. GASS.

